Free Guilty Cravings (The Steamy South 1) by Nicole North

if
you want.” She handed the bottles of wine to Nick.
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said
in a sarcastic tone, then winked. A wave of electricity passed through her and
her nipples tingled. How could one wink generate such turmoil in her body?
    “It will only take a
minute, I promise,” Tia said.
    “No problem.” Nick
headed toward the kitchen.
    Following Tia up the
stairs, Emily felt like a giddy teenager again, heading off with a friend to
talk and giggle about boys. At twenty-six she was too old for this, but she had
to admit Nick did excite her on so many levels. Once inside her bedroom, she
closed the door.
    “Way to go, Emily,”
Tia whispered dramatically.
    “What are you talking
about? I have a stalker.”
    “No, I mean about
Nick. He’s so damned hot.” Tia fanned herself.
    “Well, yes, I know
that, but—”
    “No but, girlfriend.”
    “He’s my ex’s
brother.” Emily hoped that was a good excuse to keep her hands off, no matter
how much she wanted to stroke Nick’s delectably defined muscles.
    “So? He doesn’t look
a thing like Jared. And I keep telling you that you need to get laid. Here’s
the perfect opportunity.”
    A renewed flush of
scalding heat washed over Emily, because what Tia suggested was Emily’s wildest
and most forbidden fantasy. “That’s not why he’s here. He’s a police officer,
protecting me.”
    “I know! Isn’t that
sexy?”
    “Had several glasses
of wine today, have you?” Emily asked, trying her best to tamp down her own
enthusiasm for Nick.
    “No, none. You’ve got
to forget about Jared and how he made you feel like shit. I know he’s dead, and
I’m sorry, but he was a bastard.”
    Emily nodded. “Nick
might be too.”
    “You’ve been with him
for several hours. Is he?”
    “Not so far. He’s
actually nice.” And knows exactly how to touch me with those skilled hands. But
who knew if he would change tomorrow or next week and become more like his
brother?
    “A gentleman?” Tia
inquired with mock sophistication.
    Emily shrugged. Was
she already picking up Nick’s body language? “As much as a bad boy can be, I
suppose. He seems concerned about me, wants to keep me safe.”
    “God, that’s hot.
You’ve got to tell me what happens.”
    “With the stalker or
with Nick?”
    “Both. Besides, I’m
not worried about the stalker with Nick around. He’ll kick that lunatic’s ass.”
    “I sure hope so. He
has two guns and plenty of bullets.” She’d seen the smaller second pistol when
he’d strapped it to his ankle that morning.
    “A man who can handle
weapons is hot. I am so jealous right now.” Tia had been going on a lot of
first dates recently, trying to find Mr. Right or at least a man she was
strongly attracted to, but wasn’t having much luck.
    “You’ll find the
right guy, Tia. Don’t worry.”
    “Maybe.” She gave a
tiny, sharp shrug, a hint of sadness entering her usual upbeat expression. “Who
knows? I at least want to experience a sizzling fling vicariously. I want to
know every detail of what happens.”
    “Nothing interesting
is going to happen.” Emily definitely wasn’t telling her that something interesting had already happened in bed that morning.
    * * * *
    “What do we know
about this guy—the killer?” Nick asked.
    Seated at the kitchen
table in the breakfast nook overlooking historic Savannah, Emily and Nick ate
dinner. Emily had asked Tia to join them, but she’d refused and left fifteen minutes
earlier. Emily was relaxing, enjoying the soft, early evening light, fresh Caesar
salad and cheesy lasagna—but most of all, Nick’s company—until his cryptic
words squashed her appetite.
    “Not much.” Emily put
down her fork and poured a second glass of merlot for herself and topped off
Nick’s. She shouldn’t drink another glass, but maybe the food would keep the
alcohol from affecting her too much. Besides, she needed it for courage. And if
she focused on the discussion of the killer stalking her, maybe she